Ball and catcher toy.



J. E. BRANDT. BALL AND GATGHBR TOY.

i APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23, 1911. 1,017,376., Patented Feb. 13, 1912.

' -Catcher Toys,

- the solid paddle when UNITED lsTUATEs PATENT onirica.

vKJUIQIUs F. BBANDT, or' LINnsBoaG, KANSAS.

BALL AND cATcHER TOY.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that' I, JULIUS E. BRANDT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lindsborg, in the county of McPherson arid State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ballv and specification.

My invention relates` to improvements in.. .ball and catcher toys and the leading object of my invention is the provision of an improved toy of this character which will produce the illusion of the ball passing through the toy is skilfully handled. 4

A further object of the invention is the provision of a paddle having a return ball secured thereto' and having a pocket for receiving the ball when the paddle is skilfully wielded, whereby the paddle may be employed either to bat the ball or in the attempt to catch the ball in the pocket as desired.

Other objects and advantages of my improved toy will be apparent from the followingdescription taken in connection With the drawings, and it will be understood that I may make. any modifications in the construction shown and described within the scope of the claims wit-hout departing from or exceeding the spirit of the invention.

Figure 1 represents a top plan view of my toy. Fig. 2 represents a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 represents a longitudinal sectional view on theY line 3--3 of Fig. 1 showing the trap door in closed position, and Fig. 4 represents a similar sectional view showing the door in open position.

In the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the oblong bat or paddle of my device which is preferably formed of pine or other light wood and has the turned or rounded wooden handle 2 formed integral therewith at one end.

Formed centrally in the paddle l is the aperture 3 which I- have shown as circular in form and of greater diameter than the diameter of the return ball 4 which is connected by the cord 5 with the eye 6 secured to the end of the paddle,

To normally close the aperture 8, I secure to the 'under side of the paddle adjacent the aperture the hinge 7 having its projecting leaf 8 secured to the under side of the trap door 9 which is of size to tit in agd close the aperture 3, whileto limit the upward move- Specification of Letters Patent.

of which the following a ment of the trap door I form in its upper edge the groove or recess l0 into which fits `the inlaid or'sunk circular plate or rin 11 which is flush with the face of the pa dle and projects 'inward slightly around the edg'e of the aperture 3, said plate be ng painted or finished in the same color as the face of the paddle to be normally unnoticed.

To hold the door ring l1 in closed position to be'tlush with the faceof the paddle, I employ a suitable spring member, and in the drawings I have' illustrated the paddle and door as formed with the alined sockets 12 and 1 3 in which are engaged the helical spring 14 having its ends secured to the paddle and to the door by the fastenings 15, the depression or opening of the trap door stretching said spring to cause the spring to close the trap door by its contraction as soon as the pressure is removed therefrom. i` f i In the use of my toy, the ball is swung through the air and the attempt is made ,to cause it to impinge against the center of the door 9 to force thedoor open and allow thev ball to pass through the wire mesh `net or behind the door, the door after the ball has passed into the net.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawings, the construction of my toy will be readily understood, and it will be seen that I have provided an interesting and amusing toy which combines the features of a bat and return ball with the `features `of a suspended ball and a net device for catching the same, and it will further be observed that I have device which will provide considerable enthe aperture 3 into receptacle 16 secured spring 1.4 closing the tertainment, in that frequent practice with the same will be found necessary to become so skilled in its use as to be able to cause the ball to strike the right point on the door to open the ,door and pass into the net instead of merely bouncing away fromc the door as will be the case when the door is incorrectly struck. l

-I claim@ 1. A toy, comprising a bat having a central aperture formed therein, a netted receptacle secured to one face of the bat below the aperture, a door pivoted to the lbat to close the aperture, said door being so pivot ed as to swing into the receptacle, the hat and 'door having alined sockets formed there- -1n, a coil spring mounted 1n said sockets 9 tightly against the Patented Feb.' 13, 1912.- l Application led March 23, 1911` Seiial No. 616,314. l I

provided a one .end secured to the bat and the other to the door to swing the door into closed position, and a return ball secured, to the bat and of less diameter than the aperture in the bat, whereby the ball may be passed through the aperture into the receptacle therebel'ow.

2. A toy, comprising a bat having an aperture formed therein, a trap door hinged to the under side of the bat and forming a closureI for the aperture, a spring device for normally holding the door in vclosed position,

and having a receptacle secured to the under face of the bat around the aperture, and a return ball secured to the bat,the diameter of the ball being less than the diameter ofthe aperture,

whereby the ball ,may be passed through the aperture-by skilfull virieldinr of the bat.

In testimony whereof I aflx my signature, in the presence of two Witnesses. l y J ULIUS BRANDT.

Witnesses:

C. V. ANDERSON, P .vD BACHMAN. 

